Confused Metal Baby from Outer Space

From your Amazon homepage, click "Account & Lists" then click "Content Library"

Click "Books"

Find the book you want to download and click "More actions"

Click "Download & transfer via USB"

Click the button next to your device, then click "Download"

That's it! Your book file is now downloaded to your device. To my knowledge there isn't a way to bulk download everything, which means that your have to download books individually. (If anyone knows how to download multiple books at a time, please let me know!)

I use the free software Calibre to organize my ebook files. This video gives a good basic overview of how to download your ebooks from Amazon to Calibre, and also goes over how to use Calibre to transfer your ebooks to Kobo. I recently got a Kobo and have slowly been transferring my ebooks to it, and it is actually pretty easy!

If you're looking for ways to get ebooks without supporting Amazon, check out Smashwords, Bookshop.org, or see if your favorite author/publisher sells ebooks directly from their website.

lesbian | gay

bi | trans

lgbtq | pan

ace | aro

aroace | nonbinary

please rb if saving <3

Seattle-based artist Carol Milne knits with glass, or rather, she creates wonderful glass sculptures that make it seem as though she’s either a superhuman glass knitter or in possession of enchanted knitting needles and very specialized gloves. The reality is actually much more complicated, but no less awesome. Milne invented her glass knitting technique back in 2006. It’s a process that involves knitting with wax instead of glass, followed by lost-wax casting, mold-making and kiln-casting.

First, a model of the sculpture is made from wax which is then encased by a refractory mold material that can withstand extremely high temperatures. Next, hot steam is used to melt the wax, leaving behind an empty cavity in the shape of the artwork. Pieces of room temperature glass are then placed inside the mold which is then heated to 1,400-1,600 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the type of glass. Afterward, the piece is slowly cooled over a period of several weeks, followed by a careful excavation process, where Milne delicately chips away like an archaeologist to reveal the final piece.

To check out more of Carol Milne’s extraordinary artwork visit the Glass Art Society, Milne’s Facebook page or her online gallery.

Ooh, I love capes!

Making capes

Types of capes:

There are different types of capes. Let's take a look at a few options.

Rectangle cape: the type of cape American superheroes wear. They consist out of a simple rectangle that can be tied or clasped at the neck. Use gathered fabric for extra fullness. This type of cape won't give you a lot of warmth as it will only cover your back.

Quarter circle cape: slightly more flared than a rectangle cape, but will still only cover your back.

Half circle cape: will cover both your back and shoulders and some of your body, which will give you extra warmth. Great for drama!

Fitted half circle cape: similar to a half circle cape, but made out of three separate pieces to fit around your body better. It won't cover you completely, but it will cover your back, shoulders, and more of your body than a normal half circle cape would.

Full circle cape: this cloak will cover your full body and keep you nice and warm.

Savvy sewists will notice these cape types are similar to circle skirts. The idea's basically the same. Instead of making a skirt, you leave your circle open in the front, and cut a hole that fits your neck rather than your waist.

(Image source) [ID: drawing showing five types of coats: rectangle, quarter circle, half circle, half fitted circle, full circle. Text: "Capes and cloaks. www.facebook.com/aliceincosplayland".]

Aside of volume, you can also play around with length. A floor-length cape has a very different effect and function than a cape that reaches your hips, or even a capelet.

(Image source) [ID: a pattern diagram showing four different cape lengths: floor length, hip length, waist length, and a capelet. Text: "6535 Front and back views. Newlook."]

Details like a hood or armholes can make your cape extra comfortable, and you've got a wide range of options when it comes to fasteners, too.

(Image source) [ID: back view of a long gray half circle cape that's been pleated at the shoulders.]

(Image source) [ID: a purple capelet with a hood, frills, cat ears, and lace, tied with a bow at the front. Text: "Gray. Alice and the Pirates."]

(Image source) [ID: a person wearing a brown monogrammed hip-length cape with front pockets and arm slits at the sides.]

(Image source) [ID: a person wearing a long gray hooded cape, standing in a forest and holding a sword.]

Materials:

Before deciding what fabrics to make your cloak or cape out of, ask yourself what you're trying to achieve first.

Warmth, drape, fabric price, comfort, aesthetic, wearing context,... are some examples of things that can influence your decision.

Some examples:

A cosplay cloak has to look good but doesn't necessarily have to be warm. Choose a fabric that's suitable for your character's outfit, but also keep the circumstances in which you plan to wear your outfit in mind. For example, a warm cloak might pose issues if you do a lot of indoor photo shoots, but convention halls can be pretty chilly.

A fashion cloak intended for winter really does need to be warm! Wool, tweed, and velvet are good options.

A cloak intended for historical re-enactment preferably uses period-accurate materials and therefore won't be lined with fabrics like polyester and such. Which fabric to use depends on the period and region you're working in.

Tutorials and patterns:

Here's a few tutorials/patterns to get you started:

Fitted cloak: winterberry cape (Mood)

How to draft your own hooded cape (The Spruce Crafts)

Pleated half circle cape (Gilian Conahan)

Half circle capelet (Buzzfeed)

Long hooded cloak (Fleece Fun)

Full circle capelet (Project Run and Play)

Four ways to make a cape (WikiHow)

Eight types of capes (Sew Guide)

Half circle fashion cape (Indoor Shannon)

21 free cape sewing patterns (Love Sewing)

Hooded cloak with lining (Online Fabric Store)

Conclusion:

Capes and cloaks make for fun sewing projects. They're pretty easy to make: if you know how to draw circles, you know how to draft a cape pattern.

Capes are a versatile garment, and can range from a great last-minute Halloween costume to an every-day winter cloak. Play around with materials, lengths, shapes, design elements, decoration,... to achieve different effects.

Transcript:

Hey, Big Al, why do all the people in my life with ADHD have such a weird sense of humor?

Oh, that's 'cause we're all super understimulated.

What does that even mean?

Imagine that the inside of your brain had an itch that you really couldn't scratch, but that itch was actually boredom, but that boredom was actually pain.

Oh, I see, yeah, that- that helps me none, zero at all. It also sounds pretty terrifying.

No, it- it's really not a big deal, you just kinda have to learn to restructure your life around it, including comedy.

Okay, so how does it affect the way that you interpret comedy?

So a side effect of understimulation is that your brain is constantly and more often than others' active. You're always thinking, you're always analyzing, you're always trying to problem solve. Because of exactly that, normal comedy and normal humor is a bit predictive, and doesn't really land with people with ADHD.

So what does land with people with ADHD?

Stark, abrupt chaos. Because it cannot be predicted, nor calculated.

Okay, so what would that even look like?

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Okay, why?

Snuffbox

c.1740

France

A Caricature Group by John Hamilton Mortimer, c. 1766.

This does not look like an 18th century oil painting, it looks more like something out of Mad magazine, but nope. 1760’s.

I made a pinterest board for 18th century pottery just to save all the Weird Stuff to it, like this horrible bear jug, which is just one of many similarly horrible 18th century bear jugs! It’s hideous and I love it.

Mugs shaped like people’s heads was also A Thing, here’s one from c. 1782.

And I LOVE this teapot with fossil decoration c. 1760-65. It’s amazing. Perfect. I would so dearly love to have a replica and feature it prominently in a photoshoot with some of my 18th century costumes.

This one is also c. 1760’s.

And one more, also c. 1760!

I love pretty historical dishes with delicate floral patterns as much as the next guy, but seeing weird and bright and tacky stuff from over 2 centuries ago makes me happy.

Honourable mention to these c. 1788-93 stockings with little knitted portraits in between the brightly coloured stripes.

EXTREMELY 1980s

This embroidered waistcoat is one of 3 I’ve seen with the same design, so it must have been published in a magazine or something. It’s so weird knowing that it’s 1840’s because it looks so pixel-y, especially with that bright blue background. (And yes, I’ve seen plenty of other pixel-y looking old needlepoint and and such, but they’re usually floral.)

Also, wow, those do look very 1980’s! Very convenient for costumers when things repeat like that!

There’s also a surprising amount of historical jewelry that looks exactly like something my middle school classmates would wear.

Necklace, 1861-67, V&A.

Ring, 1730-60, V&A.

Ring, c. 1780, V&A.

you can get CSP Pro forever (no subscription model) for $30!

i really love this program. i’m not sure why but i’ve just been able to use it better than any other program i’ve ever tried.